Hope For Some; None For Others

What sting can the devil's tribe deliver
That can harm those who are Jesus Christ's own?
They fear no arrows from Satan's quiver*;
Like a shield, hope can stop the hardest thrown!
Hope increases strength of the righteous few;
Its power can repel any evil foe;
It is the balm that heals the stricken pew**;
The flag that spurs faithful warriors to go!
Fight always beneath your helmet of hope,
Lest Satan dampen your arduous campaign,
Reduce your resolve to forever cope
And overcome; pray hope always remain!
Because you're saved, hope on you is bestowed;
It helps you travel heaven's narrow road!

*quiver = scabbard for arrows; **pew = Christians

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, you have a hope that non-believers can never have. You have an advantage in your struggle against the evils of this world. I know it is not popular these days to describe one group of people as having a distinct advantage over all other people, but it is a simple fact that life is more hopeful to the child of God than it is to a non-believer. It is a matter of free choice: The non-believer evidently has not yet realized that he is living under a handicap. It is extremely important for each person to come to a realization that he is losing out by failing to investigate the claims of Christ and to decide to follow Him, or the person will be forever lost. I wiil list again what you must do to be saved. It would be wise of you to copy and paste (literally) this list to the refrigerator.

1. No human being or religion can guarantee that a particular individual will be admitted to heaven. Only God can read what is in a person's heart and know his entire life and his true intentions. He will do that on Judgment Day or before.

2. Believe truly that the historical man Jesus was God come to earth to tell us how to live His way and to die for our sins; He was resurrected and is living today; He will return to earth.

3. Admit to yourself and to God in prayer that you have sinned; humbly ask Him to forgive you, and resolve not to sin again (although you and He know you will sin again, do your best not to).

4. Begin to put God, the Bible, the church, and other Christians first in your life. Let nothing overshadow God---not career, family, golf, money, recreation, television, movies, nothing...or come first but Him.